KNOXVILLE - The parents of Johnia Berry, whose brutal murder went unsolved for three years, have settled a civil lawsuit against the owners of the apartment complex where the crime occurred.

Michael and Joan Berry of Lawrenceville, Ga., had sued Brendon Park Apartments, Brendon Park Associates and First Management Services Inc. of Nashville for $3.1 million. The Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit alleged that the defendants failed to provide adequate security arrangements for the complex near Cedar Bluff Road and had not warned tenants about crimes in the vicinity prior to Johnia Berry's murder in December 2004.

The case was set for trial Feb. 5, but a notice filed today stated the case was being dropped after the parties had reached a settlement.